I started quarterly cleanses (give or take a few months) in 2011, all of which have been based on cold-pressed juices. I’ve focused on a handful of companies which have been/will be detailed in other posts however am always on the

Day 1 Line Up

lookout for new and interesting menus. Groupon provides no shortage of new offerings deals from lesser known companies flooding my email weekly. This is where I discovered the Jus by Julie juice cleanse, which differentiates itself through being a blended juice and smoothie cleanse rather than cold-pressed. This means you actually get the fiber and pulp from the ingredients instead of purely the juice, producing a thicker, pulpier experience. With the onset of cooler weather, the thought of thick, creamier drinks was too hard to resist. I have to admit that I’m also looking forward to a variety of ingredients beyond traditional cleanses (strawberries, banana, peanut butter!).

Over the next few days I will be outlining my experience on the 3 day cleanse as ordered through a Groupon promotion. Note that this cleanse was not marked as either Classic or Renewal (the offerings on the official Jus by Julie site). The Classic Cleanse as outlined on the site seems to be a little more decadent and sugary, with the Renewal cleanse providing offerings more in line with a standard cleanse. In my shipment it looks as though I may have received a combination reflective of both.

Initial Differentiators:

Blended juice providing fiber – This should provide thicker, more filling beverages that could stave off hunger for cleansers. I usually don’t have an issue with hunger while cleansing but for those who do I imagine the thicker drinks should help. I am not a doctor so don’t take this for anything other than my own musings, however the fiber may also reduce the need for an accompanying laxative, which is really a must on pressed-juice cleanses. On the downside, for those looking for the truest break for their digestive systems, this also means there will be a little more to process. (Again, not a doctor – just my humble thoughts/thought process.)

More fruit and decadent ingredients on introductory cleanses that you don’t see in many other cleanses (peanut butter and banana in particular)

Rice milk used as a base for many drinks rather than simply the fruits and vegetables.

Initial Observations (Day 0):

Be prepared to start the day after delivery: My shipment was scheduled to arrive on a Tuesday, which was also the day I planned to start for a Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday cleanse. I’ve received most other companies shipments early enough in the day to start on day of receipt, however this shipment did not arrive until 6pm. (The Jus by Julie website clearly outlines this possibility on their website in the FAQ so it was not a miss on their part, just a disappointment on mine).

The juices arrive frozen / partially frozen to aid in preservation. This is different than the other companies I’ve tried, and if you are planning to start the day of delivery you may have to let your drinks sit out a little longer before they melt completely for consumption. (Note that I immediate put my Day 3 in the freezer per company recommendation since I was starting the day after delivery).

Variety really is the spice of life and it’s no different when it comes to juices. That’s why I get so excited when companies introduce new flavors for the season. Starbucks new blend… the donut shop down the street are all reasons for little moments of excitement in my tame little life. Thankfully, I don’t have to completely rely on caffeine and donuts for those moments, though, because Pressed Juicery also rotates seasonal flavors and has just announced two juices to add a little summer to their line-up. The fruit blend is straight from a summer picnic, with a pineapple thrown in for good measure: raspberry, rhubarb, watermelon, strawberry, pineapple. My guess is the dominant flavor and base will be the watermelon, which is also common in cleanses. The green juice looks more traditional, with jalapeno replacing the traditional cayenne for the kick: kale, romaine, spinach, yuzu pink lady apple, cucumber and jalapeno.

The juices are not options for the cleanses, though they can be ordered as part of a sampler, so you could basically just build your own with these as a slight cheat to one of your greens and citrus options. I suspect the berries are outside the normal cleanse parameters, but the rest of the ingredients across both are fairly traditional. The sampler I priced for five juices and an almond milk came out to $72 ($45 and $27 tax), which is the same price as their 1-day cleanse.

I’ll be ordering them over the next week or two. Review to come with plenty of time to order. If you’ve already tried one or both, let me know! I’d love to hear your thoughts!

New to cleansing? Need a quick reboot? One of my favorite juice companies is now offering their 1-day cleanse. It’s $65 and available nationwide. Their menu varies but if you’re lucky you’ll get a Carrot Juice. Who knew carrots could be so creamy and sweet?!?!

I have a love-hate relationship with coconut water. I’d basically shunned it altogether after a series of name-brand purchases left me with nothing but a slimy mouth and unfinished bottle, with the taste just not worth the calories or hydration. Needless to say I was less than thrilled when, on my second cleanse ever (Cooler Cleanse), I had a bottle of it as part of my day 2 afternoon regime. Drum-roll… I loved it! It tasted nothing like the grocery store boxes lined up in rows, and I found myself addicted and looking forward to it even more than the lemonades it often replaced. I loved it so much I thought I’d give the grocery store options a second chance, again with the money and water going down the drain.

The raw, freshed-pressed coconut water is such a nutty and refreshing experience so different from the mass-marketed products, and I’ve finally found a raw juice available on its own through various outlets (I can confirm Whole Foods, and Amazon has it listed, though out of stock). Harmless Harvest Coconut Water promises all the raw goodness without the need to purchase the 1, 3 or 5 day cleanse or spend $10/bottle from the cleanse companies. It’s not cheap, I’ll say that, at $5.99 for a large bottle, but for a more affordable hydration boost (or treat, in my case), it’s worth giving a try. All the unheated, fresh-pressed goodness.

Romaine provides the “greeny” flavor in this drink, though the strength fades through the bottle. I couldn’t single out the spinach or fennel. I enjoyed the replacement of apple juices with orange as the base fruit for it seems to cut the sweetness. Slight pineapple flavor comes through with cilantro winning the day. Welcome option since I’m not a huge fan of straight up greens and like the twist on the flavors. Especially like that it has no cucumber.

Juice 2: Noon Citrus 3 – Grapefruit, Mint

Grapefruit juices are some of my favorites across all the cleanse and juice companies, and this grapefruit and mint blend is no exception. Fresh and tangy, this juice is all grapefruit with only a slight hint of the mint. (I remember the mint heavier in the Cooler Cleanse version of the same). Heavier than the green juice from the morning, the weight and thickness make this a great selection for the middle of the day.

Juice 3: Cucumber, Celery, Lemon, Cayenne, Ginger, Watercress

Celery wins the fight on this light green juice, with the other flavors mixed but indistinct, which might not be a bad thing as any other strong flavors could clash with the peppery taste. The cayenne builds with each sip to create a burn by the end of the bottle that might require some post-juice mouthwash. This

Juice 4: Citrus 4 – Lemon, Cayenne, Filtered Water

PJ’s version of the master cleanse with no sweetener added. Most other companies will include agave or maple to pump up the flavor, which I adore, but this is a refreshing break from the previous (and subsequent drinks) as well. I’d recommend, however, not doing too many consecutive cayenne juices in a row. It actually almost tastes sweet without anything else, which I’ll attribute to the quality and flavor of the lemons. This is also the lightest drink of the day at 50 calories for the entire drink, although I can’t imagine where they are coming from.

Juice 5: Roots 3 – Apple, Lemon, Beet, Ginger

More savory than expected, with ginger providing a nice herby/spicy flavor to the predominant beets. The two are the strongest flavors, with apple resonating through sweetness and lemon providing a slight tang. Very good juice, no problems at all with the taste and a good option for a ‘roots’. (seem to remember the carrot based being liquid/fruity). Sweetness does build through drinking but it doesn’t overpower. Yum.

“Juice” 6: Vanilla Almond Milk

PJ’s vanilla almond milk is one of the standard cleanse offerings though I selected it in my custom cleanse as well. It is a smoother, thinner nut milk that is lighter on the almond flavor than others I have had but has welcome vanilla with dates to sweeten. Goes down too quickly, and I could easily have had another. Great way to end the night and hopefully set me on the path for a good nights sleep. I definitely prefer the vanilla flavor to the chocolate. I believe the cleanses of a few years ago for PJ included some coconut milk options as well but they are no longer part of the cleanse selections.